Thank you so much to students in the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board’s Gateway Program. They made Halloween decorations to be added to in-patient meal trays on October 31.

Staff in the Paediatric Outpatient unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre went all out this Halloween for their patients. Dressed up in coordinating Winnie-the-Pooh costumes, they brought laughter and smiles to patients and staff that they encountered throughout the day.

Staff in the Regional Cancer Care program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre got into the Halloween spirit yesterday and showed off their brightly coloured prom-themed outfits. Their playful costuming brought joy and smiles to patients and staff that they encountered throughout the day.

Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management

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On Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 2:00 a.m., clocks and watches fall back one hour to change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time.

The accuracy of time is very important to ensuring safety at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. It is of importance not only for scheduling procedures and staffing, but also for charting accuracy and medication dispensing.

At 2:00 a.m. all electronic clocks that are controlled by the system (NICU, ICU, etc.) will be moved back to Daylight Saving Time automatically. Any final adjustments will be completed by 5:00 a.m. If any of these system clocks are not updated by 8:00 a.m., please contact the Maintenance Department (ext. 6344).
All departments will be responsible for changing the time on any battery operated clocks in their area. Computers will automatically change to Standard Time.

Please ensure that your personal watches/devices are updated and that any clocks in your area are adjusted in a timely manner.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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An outbreak of COVID-19 (outbreak number: 2262-2023-00128) has been declared on 2B Medical unit as of October 31, 2023. All restrictions are in place.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional precautions.

The Infection Prevention and Control department encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

For more information, contact Infection Prevention and Control at extension 6094.

We all know proceeds from the Thunder Bay 50/50 help purchase essential equipment for exceptional patient care here at our Hospital. In November, the Health Sciences Foundation would like to recognize the many employees here who use this equipment and deliver this exceptional care.

All you need to do is take a group selfie in your department (respecting patient privacy) and send it to the Health Sciences Foundation with your permission for it to be featured in our website/social media advertising during the month of November. You will then be entered into a draw for a pizza and persian party for your floor or department on a date of your choice.

Send your photo, name of your floor or department, and permission to use the photo to: shelby.wideman@tbh.net

October is Occupational Therapy Month in Canada. Occupational Therapy is a health profession that empowers people of all ages to overcome barriers in their everyday lives so they can do more and live better. Through solutions created for each individual’s unique needs, Occupational Therapists (OTs) help people of all ages and abilities recover from an injury or illness to participate in day-to-day activities, and experience life to the fullest. An OT works with the patient, their family member, or a health care team to identify and address the problems the patient may have with everyday activities. Together, the patient and their OT find solutions that will enable the patient to maintain function, regain skills, develop new skills and much more.

Thank you to all of the amazing Occupational Therapists at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Care Group for their contributions to patient care. Happy OT Month!

Are you interested in learning more about Occupational Therapy? Visit the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists website at https://www.caot.ca.

Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) is the philosophy that guides what we do, every day, to deliver exceptional care for every patient, every time. Working together with our patients and families, we are proud of the many initiatives developed and put into practice at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to help improve the patient experience.

In celebration of 14 successful years of PFCC, TBRHSC is hosting a week-long series of events called Sharing & Caring Together.

The first four days of the week will cater to Hospital staff, while the Main Exhibition on Friday, October 27 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Auditorium A/B, 3rd Level) is open to patients, staff, volunteers, and the community. This event will highlight the ideas, initiatives and various ways that TBRHSC incorporates PFCC into our daily practices. Food and beverages will be available and attendees will be eligible for prize draws. Admission is FREE.

For more information, please contact TBRHSC.PFCC@tbh.net or call (807) 684-7322.

Each year, more than 100,000 Canadians receive life-saving care in intensive units, relying on the support and care of intensive care teams.

This Canadian Intensive Care Week (October 22-28), we would like to celebrate and thank intensive care professionals across the country – including the amazing team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre – for everything they do to help patients and families in their most critical moments.

We recognize the exceptional work undertaken by the multidisciplinary team in our ICU, which includes physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and critical care nurses. They work together to help patients recover from serious injury or illness. They see patients at a time in which they are the most vulnerable and provide critical care and life support with compassion and professionalism.

Join us in thanking these health care professionals for everything they do!